Morris JE Van – an ELECTRIC homage to the J-Type van – revealed

The new Morris Commercial has revealed its first new model, the electric Morris JE, as a 21st century homage to the original Morris J-Type van.

Last month we reported that the newly-revived Morris Commercial was planning an homage to the original J-Type van with a new model which takes the styling of the original and brings it in to the 21st century, complete with electric powertrain. And here it is – the Morris JE.

Production of the new electric van won’t start until 2021, but Morris Commercial have decided to get interest in their creation rising with an early reveal at The Design Museum in London.

The Morris JE isn’t going to be exactly bargain basement – it’ll cost around £60k – but it does boast what Morris are calling a ‘State-of-the-Art’ lithium ion battery powertrain, modular chassis and carbon fibre body construction, making it possible to deliver future versions with pick-up, minibus or even camper van bodies.

Morris Commercial aren’t divulging any details of what size battery pack the JE has, or what power it has available, but they do say its lightweight construction will deliver a range of around 200 miles.

Clearly not envisaged as a mainstream alternative to other electric vans, Morris say their target market for the £60k van will be the likes of ‘hospitality industry, the sport and leisure industry, high end manufacturing businesses, the events industry and green logistics’. That said, the JE boasts a 1 tonne payload and 5.5 m³ carrying capacity, so it won’t just be a green ornament for high-end businesses.

Dr Qu Li, CEO and Founder of Morris Commercial, said:

It is a delight to unveil the new Morris JE to the world and for us to show what we have been working so hard to achieve. From the outset, our vision was to bring a new concept to the LCV market, not just in terms of the battery electric powertrain, but also to introduce a timeless design that takes the aesthetics and appeal of such a vehicle to a whole new level. What we have created is a beautiful, retro design that sits upon a cutting-edge, modular BEV platform, delivering practicality and functionality to compete with the best in its segment.